Page 48 of Drawn in Blood
Sin an ait a bhfaighidh tú na daoine óga, goidte agus i bhfolach.
Thar na gcnoc is na gcloch liath,
Sin an ait a rachaidh sibh go léir isteach sa chraic.
It sounded lesslike a song and more like a war cry—something Ember imagined troops singing as they marched into battle, flags flying and heads held high. As Ember leaned closer to listen, the crow swooped down in front of her, cutting her arm with its talons as it called out into the night. The woman’s head whipped up, looking directly at Ember, and a scream caught in Ember’s throat as their eyes met. The woman tilted her head with a smile, and lavender eyes peered back.
Ember suckedin a breath as she shot up in bed, sweat soaking her sheets and blanket. Maia slowly opened her eyes from whereshe laid at the foot of the bed and tilted her head. It was the same song she had heard when she touched the flower, the same song now rattling around in her head making her chest shake.
“It was just a dream, girl,” Ember said, as she rubbed the draic’s muzzle and took a shaky breath. “Just a dream.”
She got out of bed, shuffling toward her mirror and quickly putting her contacts in before heading downstairs with Maia at her heels, unable to fully shake the uneasy feeling in the pit of her stomach. She quietly made her way to the back door where Maize was waiting for her, giving her a stern look. Ember smiled sheepishly as Maize led Maia toward the barn to give her her breakfast, and Ember slipped into the kitchen where Gaelen was making tea. The smell of bacon, eggs, and potato farls filled the room, and Ember smiled as she sat at the table.
“Did Maia sleep well?” Aoife asked as she smirked from behind her mug. Ember’s eyes widened as she choked on a bite of bacon, and Aoife laughed as she shook her head.
“How did you know?” Ember asked sheepishly, pushing eggs around her plate.
“A mother always knows.” Aoife winked, eyes almost seeming to peer straight through her.
A knock sounded at the door, and Gaelen left the room promptly to answer it. A few moments later, Killian waltzed into the room, hands lazily stuffed in his pockets.
“Well, good morning, Killian.” Aoife smiled as she dabbed the corner of her mouth with a napkin.
“Good morning, Mrs. Lothbrok.” He grinned as he adjusted the sleeve of his jumper. “Mornin’, Theo,” he signed, ruffling the little boy's hair.
Theo smiled with a nod and then focused again on the breakfast in front of him.
Killian’s eyes landed on her, and she wasn’t quite sure why she felt like she needed to run away and hide. The invisible thread at her sternum thrummed as he smirked.
“Ready to go, Starshine?” he asked, as he plucked a piece of bacon off her plate and into his mouth. “You need all the practice you can get.”
“Where are you two off to today?” Aoife asked, as she sent her plate toward the sink.
“We’re just practicing for Rukr tryouts.” Ember smiled as she got up from the table, taking her plate quickly to the sink. “I’ll just be at the Kitts’ house. Is that okay?” She realized at that moment she had never actually asked permission.
“Of course, Mo Stór,” Aoife replied, as she kissed Ember on the top of the head. “You should take your brother with you. I’m sure he would enjoy getting out of the house.”
“Of course, Mum.” Ember smiled.
Aoife nodded as she kissed them both on the head one last time and placed her mug in the sink. ”Be home in time for supper, and try not to get into any trouble.” She cocked a brow as she looked between the two teenagers, and Ember felt her face flush. “It was lovely to see you, Killian.”
”I’ll have her home in one piece,” Killian said with a smirk. “Lovely to see you as well.”
Aoife nodded and left the room, and Killian signed something to Theo. He ran out of the room, and moments later, he was back, grinning with shoes and jacket on ready to go. Ember grabbed her AirWave, and then grabbed Maia from the barn, and the four made their way to the Echopoint at the end of the drive.
“You know you didn’t have to pick me up,” Ember said, as they made their way out the wrought iron gate. “I’m perfectly capable of getting to the Kitts’ without a chaperone.”
Killian smirked as he grabbed the low hanging branch. “Best not to take any chances.” He shrugged, and all four of them were whisked away. After landing at the Echopoint outside of the Kitts’ home, they quickly made their way up the drive and to the old farmhouse. Ember felt her heart leap into her throat and couldn’t hide her grin. She took the steps on the porch two at a time before stopping abruptly at the door.
“Just gonna stand there all day, Starshine?” Killian asked, as he cocked his brow.
Ember raised her hand as if to knock, unsure if she should just walk in or not, but before she could, the door swung open, and Fen’s grin quickly turned to confusion as his eyes bounced back and forth between Killian and Ember.
“Did you come together?” he asked, but before either of them could answer, Eira appeared around the corner.
“Fenrir James, what are you just standing there for? Let them in!” she scolded, as she ushered everyone inside, save for Maia who went straight to the pasture where Arlo was flitting about.
Eira wrapped Ember in a hug, and she immediately felt every worry in the world melt away—nothing else seemed to matter when she was back at the Kitts’. Theo inched closer to Ember and grabbed her hand, and Eira let out a small gasp as she smiled down at the boy.
